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Why Should You Consider Pressure Cleaning Your Roof?

​THE ATTACKER - Understanding what you are dealing with when cleaning your roof

Here we explain what causes your roof to be under attack. What sun and rain, algae, moss, lichens, mold or fungal growth on roof shingles do and how to cure or prevent this from happening. While there are definite advantages using a pressure washer to clean your roof, there are pros and cons on the subject.

On this page we will give you all the information you need, to make an educated decision on the subject. Let’s start with the downside, to get this out of the way:

Is pressure washing going to damage my roof?

A main concern that people have is, that the hard jet of water coming from the pressure washer nozzle is too strong and will loosen or damage the shingles and thus leave the roof porous and vulnerable to rain. Though I never came across this problem during my professional career, it seems to be a valid concern and could actually happen, if someone untrained and inexperienced attempted to pressure wash a roof on their own. It takes quite a bit of experience to do it properly!

Alternatively, there is also the SoftWash System that we use, where the emphasis is put on the correct cleaning solution to do most of the work. Due to this, only soft pressure is applied to the roof to flush away the dirt. At Pressure Washing Clearwater we use both systems successfully. If you want to know more about doing it yourself, you can watch How To Clean A Roof Videos on our video page.

How to softwash my roof correctly?

Here are all the steps of doing it right:

Thoroughly wet all the plants around the house

Covering sensitive flowers with a tarp

Wetting the roof and than spray it with a chlorine-based gel*

Let it sit for a short while to do its magic

Start washing it off, top down, with a pressure washer using low pressure

*We like to use a gel rather than a chlorine-water-soap mixture for various reasons:

The run-off from the gel is easier to control than a watery chlorine solution.

The gel is less harmful for the technician. A chlorine-water-soap mixture develops toxic fumes that a technician would breathe in while washing down the roof, which is a health hazard we want to avoid.

As the gel slowly runs down the siding of the house, a second technician is on the ground watching and diluting the run off with a constant stream of fresh water, making sure that plants are safe and protected. We can pride us to have never killed any plants when performing a thorough roof softwashing.

Generally speaking, we advise to consult a professional pressure washing technicians. He knows, that different roof tiles and problems at hand require different types of water jets and cleaning solutions to get them clean. With the right pressure (not too strong, but not too weak either) and a good cleaning solution, almost any roof can be cleaned safely and effectively with a pressure washer.

What are the benefits of pressure washing my roof?

1. Increasing The Life Of Your Roof

Despite the general belief, that the unsightly appearance of mold, moss, algae or lichen is only a cosmetic issue, the facts prove the opposite to be true: These little plants eat away the base of our shingles, loosen the foundation, leaving your roof porous and prone to water damage.

When looking at an asphalt-shingle roof with a life-expectancy of 25-years, it may not even last 15 years if nothing is done. As the algae and fungus grow on your roof, they prepare the grounds for moss to hold on to. Moss roots can also work their way into wood decks or other wood structures. Algae growth on shaded or damp areas of wood or asphalt shingle roof systems causes rot and deterioration. In Florida, clay and concrete tile roofs near the ocean are especially subject to algae problems.

Unfortunately, algae and fungus don't go away in our Florida climate, they just become dormant during winter - waiting for spring to blossom again. With regular professional pressure washing service you can keep their growth in check, save money and the trouble of having to replace your roof prematurely.

2. Increasing Your Property Value

40% of curb appeal come from the roof. A stained roof can raise suspicion in many buyers and in less than 3 seconds, potential buyers will determine that they don't want a home. This can easily be avoided with having the roof pressure washed before you put your house on the market.

A roof that is dirty or covered with algae or black stains also reflects negatively on your care for the property. (Sorry, no offence, this is not my opinion but plain market data.) A potential buyer makes snap decisions and a roof will always be one of the first things he will pay great attention to, which is not hard to understand:

Replacing a roof is a major expense that buyers are usually not willing to make, even if the rest of the house is in good condition. From there on, the probability of finding a buyer may become less likely or the potential buyer will insist on negotiating the cost of the roof replacement work into the price of the property. Your chances of getting even close to your asking price will dim. When I last checked, the average pricing for roof replacements range around $12,000 in Florida.

3. Reducing Energy Costs

The algae, mold and fungus symptoms that occur on a dirty roof absorb more heat due to its black pigmentation. These symptoms keep temperatures higher by preventing the reflective capabilities of the granules from doing their job.

The higher the temperatures climb on your roof, the harder your air conditioner has to work during our hot Florida summers. Because of the decreased insulating factors mentioned above, the convection stored in the upper levels of the home will be unable to dissipate heat. Experiments show that your electric bill can increase as much as several hundred dollars a year if you don't take care of your roof.

4. Pressure Washing Will Save You Money

When you compare the affordable price of pressure washing to the costs, that a filthy, weather damaged roof can cause, you will easily see, that you save energy costs, improve property value, and increase the life of your roof.

Have your roof and outdoor spaces safely cleaned either once a year or every other year by my family-owned company, Pressure Washing Clearwater, and save on maintenance costs in the long run!